Brad Pitt cleared of wrongdoing after child abuse investigation

LOS ANGELES — Actor Brad Pitt has been cleared of wrongdoing by officials after a child abuse investigation.

A source familiar with the situation said Wednesday that Pitt has been cleared by the Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services in its investigation of an alleged incident of abuse involving Pitt and one of his children.

The accusation stemmed from an incident on a private plane in September — occurring one day before Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt after two years of marriage.

At the time, a source with knowledge of the situation said Pitt was “taking this very seriously” and had cooperated with authorities.

When reached via e-mail, a DCFS spokesman declined to comment on the case, citing confidentiality laws.

The conclusion of the investigation comes one day after Pitt made his first public appearance since he and Jolie announced their split.

Jolie is seeking sole physical custody of the couple’s six children — Maddox, 15; Pax, 12; Zahara, 11; Shiloh, 10; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8 — meaning the children would live with her and Pitt would be allowed visits.

Last week, Pitt filed a request for joint custody.

Jolie and Pitt are following an agreement in which the children stay in their mother’s custody and have “therapeutic visits” with their father, according to Jolie’s representatives.